Silver prices have long been known for their volatility, as the precious metal rarely has a quiet day. As such, investors typically keep a close eye on the commodity. Though silver started off the year with a bang, it has since retreated, and it is now down about 5% on the year. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy has been surging, with the Down Jones Industrial Average breaking record highs last week [for more silver news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter ]. See the full story here → Related Posts: Investing In Silver: The Definitive Guide Battle Metals vs. Miners: Silver Edition 2012 Top 5 Silver Mining Stocks By Market Cap Monster Gains In 2012: Leveraged Gold vs. Leveraged Silver Top 50 Silver Investing Blogs